“The Last 5 Years”

***** If you are one of my regular readers ( or listeners to Around The Town on WCPT, Sundays) you have heard me say that when you see a play that you have already seen, it is a new experience. Yes, the dialogue ( for the most part) and if a musical, the music, are the same. The different stage, director, perhaps choreographer, set and actors will in many cases change the overall experience, and sometimes how you feel about it. The current production of “The Last 5 Years” written and composed by Jason Robert Brown, now on the stage at the Oil Lamp Theater in Glenview is the perfect example.

I have seen two previous performances, and Jane, one. The original production was done at Northlight Theatre back in 2001. It was unique and went on to success, but for the most part, had not been done a lot. In fact, it took 24 years for a nearby production in Milwaukee, where Jane and I were on a “staycation” at Saint Kate’s Hotel where it was playing in the adjacent cabaret theater. In that production there was no set, but instead a piano, a drummer and a stool with a guitar. “The Last 5 Years” is a play with music, or perhaps a musical with some words, and in Milwaukee’s production, he played the piano and the woman, the guitar. It was a sllick production that allowed the audience to peek into the lives of Jamie and Cathy as they ride the roller coaster of life and love!

Tonight, walking into the Oil lamp Theater in Glenview, after speaking to the director of the production last Sunday, I knew I was in for a treat. Christina Ramirez, who recently did a show for Citadel in Lake Forest, has shown an ability to get into the script and pull out every little item of importance in conveying the story. She is also a casting genius, and in this production she has found Abraham Deitz-Green to bring Jamie to life and Lili Galluzzo to bring Cathy to the story. They are both shining lights and handle the roller coaster without fear of falling.

The story is about falling in love, and falling out of love during a five year period of life. While we watch, each of them tells us their side of the story and why they did what they did, as well as what the other did to help the situation not get better. Let’s face it , llove is easy to fall into, but often hard to sustain. I understand more than most as this year we are celebrating 25 years of wedded bliss, after each of us had two previous pairings that didn’t last anywhere near that. While love and marriage have ups and downs, life is very seldom perfect. In the case of Jamie and Cathy, from the very start there was a religious difference, and then the careers they chose were not defined s a normal job might be. The swings of their life’s pendulums also made for some difficult periods. I know many couples that are in the world of theater that are non competitive and their lives work. I can see where two people in search of success could have problems along the way. If so, who is to blame? Probably no-one, just life!

Ramierez, truly understands the script and what Brown was trying to say, and with her cast of two very talented performers and the magnificent musical direction of Amy Branahl, brings a production of “The Last 5 Years” to the North Shore that is NOT TO BE MISSED!

Spencer Donovan’s simple set keeps the focus on the stories being told and makes the intimate stage at Oil Lamp seem larger than normal. The sound ( Maya Reter) and lighting (Rachel Hemm) are perfect. Taylor Pfenning’s costumes work and Elly Burke’s props are perfect, including some wonderful ornaments on the tiny Christmas tree.

“The Lst 5 Years” will continue at Oil Lamp Theater ,located at 1723 West Glenview Road in Glenview thru July 5th ( I think this one might get extended, or if not another venue might just pick it up). It is that good! Performances are as follows:

Thursdays    7:30 p.m.

Fridays        7:30 p.m.

Saturdays     3:00 p.m. &   7:30 p.m.

Sundays     3:00 p.m.

SPECIAL  Wednesdays  June 10th  11 a.m. and   3 p.m., June 17th  7:30 p.m., June 24th  11 a.m. & 3 p.m. and July 1st   7:30 p.m.

NO PERFORMANCES ON JULY4th ( Have a safe holiday)

Tickets are $65 and can be purchased at www.oillamptheater.org

To see what others are saying, visit www.theatreinchicago.com, go to Review Round-Up and click at “The Last 5 Years”.